Control system for an automotive vehicle multi-functional apparatus

Abstract

A control system for an automotive vehicle multi-functional apparatus employs an electronic control unit operably controlling a rear window wiper assembly. In another aspect of the present invention, an electronic control unit is operable as a multiplexed rear node for controlling a variety of liftgate devices and functions. In a further aspect of the present invention, an electronic control unit controls a single multi-functional electromagnetic device. The multi-functional electromagnetic device uses intermittent motion mechanisms to selectively operate differing devices driven therefrom. A method of operating the electronic control unit of the present invention is also provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An automotive vehicle control system for an automotive vehicle, said automotive vehicle control system comprising: a rear window wiper shaft;   an electromagnetic device drivably coupled to said rear window wiper shaft;   an electronic control unit mounted at a rear door of the automotive vehicle and electrically connected to said electromagnetic device for selectively controlling energization thereof, said electronic control unit operable to function as a multiplexed rear node for the automotive vehicle, wherein upon energization of said electromagnetic device by said electronic control unit, said electronic control unit is operable to control a plurality of devices mounted at the rear door of the automotive vehicle;   a liftgate lock coupling; and   a liftgate window release lock coupling;   said electromagnetic device is further defined as a single electric motor operable to selectively drive said wiper shaft and said lock couplings, said electromagnetic device and said electronic control unit mounted upon said rear liftgate.   
     
     
       2. The control system of claim 1 further comprising: a rotatable member selectively driven by said electromagnetic device, said wiper shaft rotatable in response to selective rotation of said rotatable member; and   feedback means for determining a rotated position of said rotatable member.   
     
     
       3. An automotive vehicle control system for an automotive vehicle having a rear door, said automotive vehicle control system comprising: a rear window wiper shaft;   an electromagnetic device drivably coupled to said rear window wiper shaft;   an electronic control unit mounted on the rear door of the automotive vehicle, said electronic control unit being electrically connected to and selectively controlling energization of said eletromagnetic device, said electronic control unit being operable to function as a multiplexed rear node for the automotive vehicle;   a plurality of devices mounted on the rear door of the automotive vehicle being operably controlled by said electronic control unit;   a rotatable member selectively driven by said electromagnetic device, said wiper shaft being rotatable in response to selective rotation of said rotatable member; and   feedback means for determining a rotated position of said rotatable member;   a first intermittent motion mechanism selectively engagable with said rotatable member.   
     
     
       4. The control system of claim 3 wherein said plurality of devices includes a liftgate lock coupling. 
     
     
       5. The control system of claim 3 wherein said plurality of devices includes a liftgate window release lock coupling. 
     
     
       6. The control system of claim 3 wherein said plurality of devices includes a stop lamp. 
     
     
       7. The control system of claim 3 wherein said plurality of devices includes a license lamp. 
     
     
       8. The control system of claim 3 wherein said plurality of devices includes an ajar switch. 
     
     
       9. The control system of claim 3 further comprising a main body microprocessor operably sending a multiplexed signal to said electronic control unit, said electronic control unit including a rear node microprocessor. 
     
     
       10. The control system of claim 3 further comprising: means for selectively and drivably disengaging said wiper shaft from said rotatable member when said rotatable member drives said first intermittent motion mechanism; and   said first intermittent motion mechanism being selectively and drivably disengaged from said rotatable member when said rotatable member drives said wiper shaft.   
     
     
       11. The control system of claim 10 further comprising: a second intermittent motion mechanism selectively engagable with said rotatable member;   means for selectively and drivably disengaging said wiper shaft from said rotatable member when said rotatable member drives said second intermittent motion mechanism; and   said second intermittent motion mechanism being selectively and drivably disengaged from said rotatable member when said rotatable member drives said wiper shaft and when said rotatable member drives said first intermittent motion mechanism.   
     
     
       12. The control system of claim 3 wherein said means for determining a rotated position of said rotatable member includes: a feedback conductive pattern movable in conjunction with said rotatable member;   at least three conductive contactors electrically interfacing with said feedback conductive pattern; and   electrical circuit means for electrically connecting said electronic control unit to said conductive contactors, at least two of said conductive contactors operable for providing an input signal to said electronic control unit.   
     
     
       13. The control system of claim 3 wherein said electronic control unit is further defined as a microprocessor directly mounted to said electromagnetic device. 
     
     
       14. An automotive vehicle control system for an automotive vehicle having a rear door, said automotive vehicle control system comprising: a rear window wiper shaft;   an electromagnetic device drivably coupled to said rear window wiper shaft;   an electronic control unit mounted on the rear door of the automotive vehicle, said electronic control unit being electrically connected to and selectively controlling energization of said electromagnetic device, said electronic control unit being operable to function as a multiplexed rear node for the automotive vehicle;   a plurality of devices mounted on the rear door of the automotive vehicle being operably controlled by said electronic control unit;   a main gear rotatably driven by said electromagnetic device, said electromagnetic device being further defined to include a fractional horsepower electric motor;   mechanical means for disengagably coupling said wiper shaft from said main gear; and   circuit means for selectively reversing energization to said electric motor.   
     
     
       15. The control system of claim 14 further comprising: said electronic control unit employing first software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear in a cyclical manner within a window wiping positional range; and   said electronic control unit further employing second software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear to a depressed wiper arm parking position.   
     
     
       16. The control system of claim 15 further comprising said electronic control unit employing third software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear within a first lock positional range. 
     
     
       17. The control system of claim 16 further comprising said electronic control unit employing fourth software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear within a second lock positional range. 
     
     
       18. The control system of claim 14 further comprising: a liftgate lock coupling; and   a liftgate window release lock coupling;   said electromagnetic device being further defined as a single electric motor operable to selectively drive said wiper shaft and said lock couplings, said electromagnetic device and said electronic control unit being mounted upon said rear door.   
     
     
       19. An automotive vehicle control system comprising: an electronic control unit;   a fractional horsepower electric motor electrically connected to said electronic control unit, said motor further including a rotatable armature shaft; and   said electronic control unit selectively energizing said motor to cause said armature shaft to move a first amount of rotations for actuating a first device coupled thereto, said electronic control unit selectively energizing said motor to move said armature shaft a second amount of rotations for actuating a second device coupled thereto.   
     
     
       20. The control system of claim 19 wherein said electronic control unit selectively energizes said motor to cause said armature shaft to move to a third amount of rotations for actuating a third device coupled thereto. 
     
     
       21. The control system of claim 20 wherein said third device is a lock coupling. 
     
     
       22. The control system of claim 19 further comprising multiplexing means for allowing electrical communications to said electronic control unit. 
     
     
       23. The control system of claim 22 further comprising a main body microprocessor operable for receiving input signals from vehicle occupant-controlled switches, said main body microprocessor electrically communicating with said electronic control unit through said multiplexing means. 
     
     
       24. The control system of claim 19 wherein said electronic control unit and said motor are mounted upon a rear door of said automotive vehicle, said rear door movable to access a passenger compartment of said automotive vehicle. 
     
     
       25. The control system of claim 19 further comprising: first intermittent motion means coupling said first device to said armature shaft; and   second intermittent motion means coupling said second device to said armature shaft.   
     
     
       26. The control system of claim 19 wherein said first device includes a rear window wiper shaft. 
     
     
       27. The control system of claim 19 further comprising relay means for electrically connecting said electronic control unit and said motor, said relay means operable for selectively reversing electrical polarity to said motor in response to an output signal from said electronic control unit. 
     
     
       28. An automotive vehicle control system comprising: a fractional horsepower, dc, electric motor;   a main gear rotatably driven by said electric motor;   circuit means for selectively reversing energization to said electric motor;   an electronic control unit employing first software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear in a cyclical manner within a window wiping positional range;   said electronic control unit further employing second software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear to a depressed wiper arm parking position; and   said electronic control unit employing third software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear within a first lock positional range.   
     
     
       29. The control system of claim 28 further comprising said electronic control unit employing fourth software logic means for causing said electric motor to rotate said main gear within a second lock positional range. 
     
     
       30. The control system of claim 28 further comprising a main body microprocessor operable for receiving input signals from vehicle occupant-controlled switches, said main body microprocessor electrically communicating with said electronic control unit through multiplexing means. 
     
     
       31. A method of controlling at least one automotive vehicle device, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a first multiplexed signal by a rear node electronic control unit from a main body electronic control unit;   (b) energizing an electric motor;   (c) rotating a rear window wiper shaft by said motor;   (d) receiving a second multiplexed signal by said rear node electronic control unit from said main body electronic control unit; and   (e) energizing an illumination device in response to step (d).   
     
     
       32. A method of controlling at least one automotive vehicle device, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a first multiplexed signal by a rear node electronic control unit from a main body electronic control unit;   (b) energizing an electric motor;   (c) rotating a rear window wiper shaft by said motor; and   (d) determining if an ajar input signal is being received by said rear node electronic control unit.   
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a second multiplexed signal by said rear node electronic control unit from said main body electronic control unit; and   (b) energizing an illumination device in response to step (a).   
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of illuminating a center high mount stop lamp employing said illumination device. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of illuminating a license lamp employing said illumination device. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of rotating said wiper shaft to a park position if said determining if an ajar input signal is being received step is answered affirmatively. 
     
     
       37. A method of controlling at least one automotive vehicle device, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a first multiplexed signal by a rear node electronic control unit from a main body electronic control unit;   (b) energizing an electric motor;   (c) rotating a rear window wiper shaft by said motor; and   (d) receiving a second multiplexed signal by said rear node electronic control unit from said main body electronic control unit;   (e) energizing said motor in response to step (d); and   (f) moving a lock coupling in response to step (e) but not in response to said receiving a first multiplexed signal step.   
     
     
       38. A method of operating an automotive vehicle control system employing a microprocessor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) checking for a liftgate ajar signal from a first switch indicating that a liftgate is ajar;   (b) checking for a liftgate window ajar signal from a second switch indicating that a liftgate window is ajar;   (c) allowing for energization of a fractional horsepower electric motor if either of said steps of (a) and (b) detect said ajar signals;   (d) moving a portion of said motor to a window wiper park position in response to step (c);   (e) checking for a lock movement input signal from a switch indicating that movement of a lock is desired;   (f) allowing for energization of said motor if said checking step of (e) detects said lock movement input signal; and   (g) moving said portion of said motor to a lock movement position in response to step (f).   
     
     
       39. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step of allowing for energization of an illumination source by said microprocessor. 
     
     
       40. A method of operating an automotive vehicle control system comprising the steps of: (a) determining if a lock movement input signal has been received;   (b) energizing an electric motor if said determining step of (a) detects said lock movement input signal;   (c) unlocking a lock mechanism in response to step (b);   (d) determining if a window wiper actuation input signal has been received;   (e) energizing said motor if said determining step of (d) detects said wiper actuation input signal; and   (f) moving a window wiper shaft throughout a wiping positional range in response to step (e).   
     
     
       41. The method of claim 40 further comprising the steps of: (a) sensing a rotational position of a rotatable portion of said motor;   (b) deenergizing said motor upon sensing that said rotatable portion of said motor is disposed in a desired position.   
     
     
       42. The method of claim 40 further comprising the sequential steps of: (a) detecting that said wiper actuation input signal is no longer present; and   (b) rotating a rotatable portion of said motor to a wiper park position.   
     
     
       43. The method of claim 40 further comprising the steps of: (a) determining if a lamp illumination input signal is present for indicating that illumination of a lamp is desired; and   (b) energizing an illumination source within said lamp if said determining step of (a) detects said lamp input signal.   
     
     
       44. The method of claim 40 further comprising the steps of: (a) determining if a heated backlite activation input signal is present for indicating that activation of heated backlight conductive elements are desired; and   (b) energizing said heated backlite conductive elements if said determining step of (a) detects said heated backlite input signal.